Flexible beam structures



Nov. 15, i966 NoRIo sAlTo FLEXIBLE BEAM STRUCTURES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 26, 1964 FIG-I INVENTOR.

ga e 'fo FIG-2B Nov. 15, 1966 NoRxo SAITO 3,284,964

FLEXIBLE BEAM STRUCTURES Filed March 26, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. /Vor/O Sau 'fo Nov, 15, 1966 NoFelo sAl-ro 3,284,964

FLEXIBLE BEAM STRUCTURES Filed March 26, l964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 S ec. 2

S ec. l

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INVENTOR f/o QQ United States atent 3,284,964 FLEXIBLE BEAM STRUCTURES Norio Saito, S8 Kirisato-machi, Uta-ku, Tokyo, Japan Filed Mar. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 355,119 6 Claims. (Cl. 52--Z) The present invention relates to beam structures for supporting loads and, more particularly, to new flexible beam structures which are capable of supporting or transporting a load and of 'bending in every direction as desired.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel ilexible beam structure which is able to bend in every desired direction by controlling the supply of the energy into the beam structure.

Another object is to provide a ilexible beam structure for supporting a load.

A further object is to provide a flexible beam structure for carrying or transporting a load to the desired position by bending the beam structure.

An additional object is to provide a flexible beam structure which may be used as mechanical elements for the machine or construction.

The manner in which the -foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished will be apparent from the accompanying specication considered together with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a sectional view illustrating a principal construction of a beam structure according to the present invention;

FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D show diagrams explaining the principle of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of a portion forming the beam structure according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view of the beam structure which is applied for a crane carried on a motor truck;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a controlling system for the beam structure of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a further ern- `bocliment of the beam structure according to the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. l of the drawings, it shows the ybasic construction of a portion forming the llexible beam structure according to the invention, comprising a core member 1 which is extended longitudinally through the structure in the center portion, a number of bellows 2 and 2', members 3 for supporting bellows, and conduit means 4 and 5 connecting the bellows 2 and 2 to a supply of pressure supply through a controlling system. The both ends of bellows are fixed to the supporting members 3 which in turn are secured to the core member by any suitable means such as, for example, welding or soldering. The core member l may be made from the ilexible material such as steel wire or sheet steel. At least a pair of bellows 2 and 2 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the core member 1 and a number of pairs of bellows are arranged in series to form the flexible beam structure.

As shown in FIG. 2A, if any external force is applied to a beam A, it will be bent. In this instance, for example, the upper side A1 of the beam will be lengthened, lower side A2 will be shortened, and at the neutral surface extending along the longitudinal axis x-x of the beam A takes place no change in its length.

In this instance, the normal stress ax with respect to the both sides A1 and A2 is represented as lfollows:

Fray/1, (1)

where M represents a bending moment, IZ represents the secondary moment of inertia with respect to an axis Z, and y represents a distance from the neutral surface to the center of a sectional area.

In the present invention, it is intended that the fluid pressure of :1 -p is substituted for the normal stress idx shown in the above Equation 1 so as to obtain the following relation with respect to a force F acting to a cross section A normal to the longitudinal axis of the beam:

Under the Hookes law, the exure of the exible structure according to the above-mentioned bending moment is shown as in the following:

where F=tensile or compressive force Ezmodules of direct elasticity A=cross sectional area of the beam l=total length of the -beam structure In the construction shown in FIG. 1, it is considered that the fluid of the pressure l-p is introduced into the `bellows 2 through the conduit 4 and the pressure in the bellows Z is reduced to -p.

For convenience, the explanation will be referred to FIG. 2c which shows a portion of the beam structure constituting a pair of bellows 2 and 2'. In this instance, let Ae be the effective area of the cross section of the bellows, then the bellows 2a is expanded to by th-e force ABD, and the bellows Za is contracted to by the force Aep.

It is appreciated that instead of the vertical stress uw the force of bellows opposing against the external force Aep is balanced to the tensile force and the compressive force.

Therefore, in this case, the load will be considered to be a potential energy of the reaction F due to the expansion or compression of the bellows.

Since the rigid wall 3 is attached to the neutral core member, the moment 2[Aepl will be transmitted to the core member and cause it to bend as AB.

In the structure shown in FIG. lA which is constructed by connecting a number of sections shown in FIG. 2C, the radius of curvature R of the core member may be readily varied depending upon the increase or decrease of the internal pressure p so as to curve the beam as desired.

When load W is applied to the beam at point O as shown in FIG. 2D after the beam has been deflected by applying internal pressures +111 and p1 as shown in FIGURE 2D, the vertical stress a2 caused in section n by moment MAB will be added to the reaction force 511:@1 :IC/Ae (where K is the spring reaction force) in the bellows produced by said internal pressures. Let the value of the resultant stress be UXS the following relation is established:

since MAB is the moment in the section n.

Accordingly, from the above Equation 3 internal pressure +173 which substitutes for the tensile stress 1X3 will be shown in the following:

That is, when load W is applied to the deected beam at point O, MAB will set up against p3 instead of O, 1X3 since the flexure is not changed. It is apparent that in such a case, p3 opposing against exa in the compressed side is of positive sign.

As set forth above, the signs of internal pressures in the bellows in the distortional step of the beam become entirely converse when load is applied thereto.

Rigid walls always maintain bellows 2a, 2a to be in parallel with the neutral axis, and transmit the moment caused by force Aep to the neutral axis to distort the neutral axis. Therefore, the neutral axis member 1 and rigid Walls 3 should be made to provide a sufficient rigidity and to always maintain them normal to each other.

In addition to the above, the rigid walls are caused therein a shearing strain y by the moment AM due to two equivalent but oppositely directed forces V acting upon between adjacent walls as shown in FIGURE 2D. The shearing strain is shown as follows:

wherein, i] is distance from the neutral axis to the center of a section of bellows.

Since I z @244052 (8) Substituting the terms of Equations and 6 in Equation 7, then VAZ 3:

therefore, the maximum value of the shearing stress along the axis may be obtained by the following equation:

TMFA. am; (lo) Referring to FIG. 3 of the drawings, it shows a portion or section of the beam structure according to the present invention. In this embodiment the flexible beam structure includes a core member 101, which is made of an elastic material having a circular cross section. For example the core member may be made of steel.

Sections Sec.1, Sec.2, Sec.3, and so on having a number of bellows 102 are mounted around the core member 101, symmetrically, in the manner as mentioned under. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the sections having bellows are arranged adjacently each other and bellows of the sections Sec.1, Sec.2, Sec.3 and others are communicated each other through openings 104, 104 in supporting members 103. Since each section is the same in construction, one of sections is explained in detail.

The section Sec. consists of the rst and second bellows and the supporting members 103. The first bellows 102 is supported by the supporting members 103 and the second bellows 102 is supported by the members 103 in adjacent to the core member 101. By the expansion of the bellows 102 the supporting members 103 arranged to the both ends of the bellows are drawing each other and therefore the opposite motion with respect to the motion of the supporting members 103 to be expanded is provided, which the motion corresponds to the force p3 in the Equation 4.

Since the two bellows 102 and 102 are arranged to elongate or shorten in proportion to the radial distance from the core member 101 is eliminated, and the member 101 serves substantially as the neutral axis.

The support member 103 may be secured to the core member by welding or any other suitable ways. The section is expanded or contracted, as desired, longitudinally by increasing or reducing the pressure in bellows through a pressure control means (not shown) in conduit means 105, 105 connected to a supply of pressure iluid.

The conduit means 105, 105 are respectively connected to the bellows 102, 102 in the first section by means of branch conduits 106, 106'. If the pressured [luid from the supply through the pressure control means be introduced into 4the conduit 105, it passes into the bellows 102 of the raw I in the rst section Sec. through the branch pipe 106 from the conduit 105, then it introduced to the bellows 102 of the same raw in the adjacent section Sec., through the openings 104, in the supporting member 103 while the pressure in bellows 102' of the rst raw I is reduced, and the raw I of the all lsections will be elongated. At the same time, if the pressure in bellows 102 in the raw II is withdrawn therefrom through the conduits 106, the raw II will be conversely shortened, and the beam structure is bent as shown in FIG. 2A as the whole.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, there are eight, raws (I, I; II, II; III, III; IV, IV) of the bellows. It will be appreciated from the above description that the beam structure is bent to the desired direction by controlling the supply to the pressure iluid into the bellows.

FIG. 4 of the drawings shows an application for a hoisting of the beam structure according to the present invention. In flexible beam structure 111 mounted on a motor-truck 110, the sectional areas of the sections constituting the beam are decreased from a base section Sec.1 to a free end section Sec.3. By controlling the supply of the fluid pressure to the bellows in each section as desired, each section may be bent in every direction. Thus the flexible beam structure 111 may be used to move or lift and down the load W to be transported.

FIG. 5 shows a control system of the beam structure according to the present invention in a schematic diagram. The upper side bellows in the sections Sec.1, Sec.2, and Sec.3 are respectively connected through lines 112, 113, and 114 to control valve means 115, 116 and 117 which are in turn connected with a common pressure fluid supply 118. On the other hand, the lower side bellows in the Sec.1, Sec.2 and Sec.3 of the beam are also respectively connected through lines 119, and 121 to the respective control valve means 115, 116 and 117. The control valve means 115, 116 and 117 will be controlled manually or automatically by means of a suitable control mechanism to pass the pressurized fluid flow from the supply 118 to either lines 112, 113 and 114 or lines 119, 120 and 117. Accordingly, by controlling the valve means, the upper side bellows or the lower side bellows in each of the sections will be bent toward the desired direction.

FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment ofthe beam structure of the present invention, in which both free ends of the bellows 202 in each section are respectively connected through an arm structure 122 or 123 to the supporting members 203 facing the opposite side of the respective end of the bellows, so that if the bellows is expanded by supplying the pressure lluid, the side ofthe section having such bellows is shortened.

As it is clearly understood from preferred embodiments of the present invention set forth above, the llexible beam structures according to the present invention provide a suiciently large llexure equivalent to the flexure to be produced when an external bending force is applied thereto, and since they are durable against a large load, they may be used as movable structural members or power transmitters in machines, vessels, buildings as well as in aircrafts.

What I claim is:

1. A flexible beam structure comprising a central, longitudinally extending, ilexible core member, a plurality of longitudinally spaced, radially extending members fixed to said core member, at least three longitudinally expansible and contractable uid pressure elements between each pair of radially extending members spaced circumferentially about said core member, and uid p-ressure means for selectively controlling the uid pressure in said fluid pressure elements to expand or contract said elements selectively.

2. A exible beam structure comprising a central longitudinally extending flexible core member, and a plurality of longitudinally arranged sections connected to said core member, each of said sections being formed of a plurality of circumferentially arranged, longitudinally expansible and contractable fluid pressure elements arranged circumferentially about said core member and a pair of radial members carried by said core member and supporting the uid pressure elements of said section, and fluid supply and control means connected to said individual uid pressure elements for selectively increasing or decreasing the fluid pressure in said elements to expand or contract said elements selectively.

3. A continuous, flexible, linear structure comprising a plurality of series of longitudinally expandable and contractable fluid pressure elements arranged about a central axis with the axes of said series parallel and the elements of each series connected to elements of adjoining series, the elements of each series being connected end to end with their longitudinal axes coinciding with the axis of the series, uid pressure connections to said uid pressure elements and control means to control selectively the increase and decrease of pressure in said uid pressure elements.

4. A continuous, exible, linear structure comprising at least two series of longitudinally expandable and contractable fluid pressure elements arranged on opposite sides of a central axis with the axes of said series parallel and the elements of each series connected to elements of adjoining series, the elements of each series being connected end to end with their longitudinal axes coinciding with the axis of the series, fluid pressure connections to said fluid pressure elements and control means to increase or decrease selectively the pressure in said uid elements.

5. A continuous, flexible, linear structure comprising at least three series of longitudinally expandable and contractable Huid pressure elements arranged about a central axis with the axes of said series parallel and spaced not less than and the elements of each series connected to elements of adjoining series, the elements of each series being connected end to end with their longitudinal axes coinciding with the axis of the series, Huid pressure connections to said fluid pressure elements, and control means to increase or decrease selectively the pressure in said fluid elements.

6. The method of controlling the rigidity and direction of curvature of a continuous, flexible structure which is formed with a plurality of longitudinally expandable and contractable uid pressure elements arranged in a plurality of longitudinal series about a central longitudinal axis with the elements of each series connected end to end and connected to elements of adjoining series, said method comprising selectively increasing or decreasing the fluid pressure in said elements so as to expand the ele- -ments on one side of said central axis relative to those 0n the other side at selected positions along said structure, thereby producing curvature of said structure at diierent positions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,702,053 2/1955 Baker 92-39 2,875,913 3/1959 Gohrke 214-654 FOREIGN PATENTS 737,014 9/1955 creata-main.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FLEXIBLE BEAM STRUCTURE COMPRISING A CENTRAL, LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING, FLEXIBLE CORE MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED, RADIALLY EXTENDING MEMBERS FIXED TO SAID CORE MEMBER, AT LEAST THREE LONGITUDINALLY EXPANSIBLE AND CONTRACTABLE FLUID PRESSURE ELEMENTS BETWEEN EACH PAIR OF RADIALLY EXTENDING MEMBERS SPACED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ABOUT SAID CORE MEMBER, AND FLUID PRESSURE MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY CONTROLLING THE FLUID PRESSURE IN SAID FLUID PRESSURE ELEMENTS TO EXPAND OR CONTRACT SAID ELEMENTS SELECTIVELY. 